Armed Forces: Joint Strike Fighter

Lord Astor of Hever: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Sainsbury of Turville on 2 May (WA 47) on the Joint Strike Fighter, whether they will now lay before Parliament the secondary legislation necessary to invoke and bring into effect the powers under the Export Control Act 2002.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: I refer the noble Lord to 2 May 2006 (Official Report, col. WA 47).

Benefits: Personal Capability Assessment

Lord Morris of Manchester: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Which medical and consultative groups have been convened to consider the mental health component of the personal capability assessment; who are the members of these groups; and what are the terms of reference for each group.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: The mental health component of the personal capability assessment (PCA) was developed over 10 years ago on the recommendations of an expert working group. In the intervening period changes have occurred to the pattern of mental health problems. For example, there is now a much higher incidence of common mental health problems relative to severe mental health problems and a much higher proportion of incapacity benefits claimants state a mental health problem as the reason for their unfitness for work.
	On this basis, and after 10 years' experience of carrying out the PCA, it is now appropriate to review the mental health assessment to ensure that it meets today's pattern of illness presentation and the available treatment options.
	The remit of the review is to:
	consider the impact of the changing pattern of mental health problems and treatment options on the effectiveness of the mental health component of the assessment; review the relevance of current assessment descriptors and identify aspects not covered by current descriptors;
	review the interaction between mental and physical health problems and the way they are handled by the current scoring system; and
	make recommendations for a revised mental health assessment which will ensure that those who are currently unfit for work are identified; identify accurately those who in spite of their condition are fit to continue in work; and, for those who are unfit for work, identify interventions that would help to support recovery such that return to work would again become an option.
	We have set up two groups to carry out the review: first, a technical working group comprising technical or medical experts from the field of mental health and learning difficulties; and secondly a consultative group made up of lay experts representing key stakeholder groups. The two groups will work together to review the component, ensuring that there is a balance between academic robustness, user acceptability and operational deliverability.
	The following people are on the Mental Health Technical Group. They all have medical or occupational health experience of managing mental health conditions and of the relationship between mental health and work:
	Professor Geoff Shepherd
	Dr Jed Boardman
	Dr Alan Cohen
	Dr Bob Grove
	Miles Rinaldi
	Dr Paul Litchfield
	Sue Godby
	Dr Angela Graham
	Dr Philippa Russell
	The following organisations have been invited to nominate representatives to sit on the Mental Health Consultative Group:
	Disability Employment Advisory Committee
	Disability Rights Commission
	MENCAP
	Mind
	National Autistic Society
	RADAR
	Rethink
	SANE
	Salford County Council
	Scottish Development Centre for Mental Health
	Social Care Institute for Excellence
	TUC
	Turning Point
	In addition, Lord Layard and Judy Scott from Judy Scott Consulting have been invited to attend.
	The two groups will work together at all stages of the review, considering the issues and developing recommendations for Ministers. To ensure that the groups are fully integrated, each group will nominate members to attend meetings of their partner group. Where appropriate there will be joint meetings of the two groups, but particularly before the groups present their joint recommendations to Ministers in September.

British Coal Compensation

Lord Lofthouse of Pontefract: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the average cost of handling each claim under the British Coal respiratory disease litigation, taking into account the original trial costs and all internal and external overheads, to include legal fees and contractors' fees, but excluding awards of compensation.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: The average cost per claim under the respiratory disease scheme, by the above criteria, is approximately £3,790.

British Coal Compensation

Lord Lofthouse of Pontefract: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the average cost of handling each claim under the British Coal vibration white finger litigation, taking into account the original trial costs and all internal and external overheads, to include legal fees and contractors' fees, but excluding awards of compensation.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: The average cost per claim under the vibration white finger scheme, by the above criteria, is approximately £2,080.

Cancer: Bowel

Lord Acton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Warner on 18 April (WA 167), when they estimate the National Institute for Clinical Excellence will complete its appraisal of Avastin.

Lord Warner: The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) expects to publish final guidance to the National Health Service on the use of bevacizumab (Avastin) in November 2006. This information is available on NICE's website (www.nice.org.uk).

Council Tax: Revaluation

Baroness Hanham: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether, despite the enactment of the Council Tax (Revaluation) Bill which postponed the implementation of revaluation of properties for council tax purposes, they propose that the revaluation of properties for council tax purposes will begin shortly; and
	Whether they intend to implement a revaluation of properties for council tax purposes before they have laid an order before Parliament.

Baroness Andrews: The Government are awaiting the final report of Sir Michael Lyons's inquiry on local government finance before taking any decisions about a future council tax revaluation.

Council Tax: Revaluation

Baroness Hanham: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether any job losses were implemented in anticipation of the postponement of the revaluation of properties for council tax purposes; and, if so, whether they will now re-employ the staff involved.

Baroness Andrews: None. Once the Government's postponement decision had been made, the Valuation Office Agency immediately drew up plans to reduce staff numbers. Some 420 staff working on casual and fixed-term contracts had left the agency by 18 November 2005, and early departure schemes for permanent employees mean that a further 380 staff will have left in the period between 30 March 2006 and 30 June 2006. Coupled with natural wastage, the total reduction will be well in excess of 1,000 staff overall. Any staff who left the agency will be eligible to apply for any future vacancies under the Cabinet Office rules on fair and open competition.

Disability: Pathways to Work

Lord Morris of Manchester: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Which programme spending within the Department for Work and Pensions has been reduced in order to pay for the £360 million rollout of the Pathways to Work pilot schemes.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: The funding has been drawn from the budgets provided to the department through the 2004 spending review settlement which covered the financial years 2005–06 to 2007–08. The departmental report 2005 (Cm 6539) published in June 2005 contains details of the department's spending plans for these years. The rollout of Pathways to Work will have no material impact on the operational budgets of any of our agencies.

Elections: All-women Shortlists

Lord Norton of Louth: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	On what constitutional basis the Secretary of State for Wales issued an apology on behalf of Her Majesty's Government for the use of all-women shortlists by the Labour Party in Wales.

Lord Evans of Temple Guiting: The Secretary of State for Wales has issued no apology in respect of the policy of all-women shortlists.

Energy: Biomass

Lord Patten: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What percentage of the biomass materials used in co-fired coal power stations that qualify under the renewables obligation is imported rather than grown in the United Kingdom.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: Statistics for 2004 show that 212,000 tonnes oil-equivalent of imported biomass was used for power generation in the UK. We understand the greater part of this was utilised in co-firing, which used 335,100 tonnes oil-equivalent biomass in total.
	The relevant tables are 7.1 and 7.7 in the Digest of UK Energy Statistics, which can be viewed at www.dti.gov.uk/energy/inform/dukes/
	Figures for 2005 will be available in July of this year.

Government Departments: Telephone Services

Baroness Byford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Paymaster General, Dawn Primarolo, on 10 March (HC Deb, 1802W), why the number of callers to HM Revenue and Customs encountering an engaged tone has risen to 6.3 million in the first nine months of 2005–06 from 3.1 million in the whole of 2004–05.

Lord McKenzie of Luton: Overall caller volumes have grown considerably in 2005–06 and will have contributed to the increase observed in engaged tones. Apparently high numbers of engaged tones can however be very misleading. They occur mainly at the busiest periods when callers constantly hit the redial button on modern telephone handsets. The vast majority of callers to HMRC contact centres do get through even though they may have to try more than once at the busiest times.

Iraq: Military Casualties

Lord Hanningfield: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Drayson on 13 March (WA 190), whether they will place in the Library of the House a copy of the advice that was provided to Defence Ministers on the media handling of the 100th fatality of British service personnel in Iraq.

Lord Drayson: I am withholding this information as its release would be likely to inhibit the provision of frank advice to Ministers.

Parliamentary Ombudsman

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Bassam of Brighton on 29 March (WA 125), on how many occasions since 1997, and in respect of which specific recommendations, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has refused or omitted to give effect to the recommendations of the Parliamentary Ombudsman.

Baroness Andrews: Since 1997 the Central Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and its agencies have not refused or omitted to give effect to the recommendations of the Parliamentary Ombudsman, either concerning complaints about administrative practices, service delivery or complaints made under the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information. Similar information relating to the office's regional offices, non-departmental public bodies or other bodies that the office sponsors is available only at disproportionate cost.

Parliamentary Ombudsman

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Bassam of Brighton on 29 March (WA 125), on how many occasions since 1997, and in respect of which specific recommendations, the Commission for Social Care Inspection has refused or omitted to give effect to the recommendations of the Parliamentary Ombudsman.

Lord Warner: We understand from the chair of the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) that, in the period 1 April 2005 to 31 March 2006, CSCI has complied with all recommendations issued by the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman.
	Data for the period 1 April 2004 to 31 March 2005 are not available, as responses to the ombudsman's recommendations were not handled centrally within CSCI.
	CSCI recognises the importance of the ombudsman's role and is committed to responding in full to all inquiries of the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman, including compliance with the recommendations made.

Parliamentary Ombudsman

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Bassam of Brighton on 29 March (WA 125), on how many occasions since 1997, and in respect of which specific recommendations, the Employment Appeal Tribunal has refused or omitted to give effect to the recommendations of the Parliamentary Ombudsman.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: Since 1997, the Employment Appeal Tribunal has on no occasion refused or omitted to give effect to the recommendations of the Parliamentary Ombudsman.

Parliamentary Ombudsman

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Bassam of Brighton on 29 March (WA 125), on how many occasions since 1997, and in respect of which specific recommendations, the Certification Officer for Trade Unions has refused or omitted to give effect to the recommendations of the Parliamentary Ombudsman.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: Since 1997, the Parliamentary Ombudsman has made no specific recommendations directed to the certification officer.

Railways: Rail Accident Investigation Branch

Lord Bradshaw: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Why, bearing in mind that it was intended that the Rail Accident Investigation Branch would be first at the scene of an accident to gather evidence, the Office of Rail Regulation and the British Transport Police undertake initial investigations before it is apparent that breaches of regulations or the criminal law have occurred.

Lord Davies of Oldham: The duties of the British Transport Police and ORR (formally HSE) remain unaffected by the establishment of the RAIB and the police will invariably be the first on site.
	Working arrangements have been agreed by RAIB, BTP and ORR to give the RAIB access to the evidence and deliver the intent of the Railway and Transport Safety Act 2003, which was that the RAIB has precedence in a safety investigation.
	To date, experience has shown that the arrangements are working well and all investigating bodies are working co-operatively.

Science: Research

Lord Rana: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What plans they have to increase spending on scientific research to ensure that the United Kingdom does not fall behind international competitors.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: Future government spend on science, beyond 2007–08, will be determined by the forthcoming settlement in the 2007 Comprehensive Spending Review. The Government launched their 10-year Science and Innovation Investment Framework in 2004, outlining a long-term vision for science and innovation.

St Helena

Lord Jones of Cheltenham: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What progress has been made on preparations to provide air access for the island of St Helena; and what are the current estimates for (a) beginning the building of the airport; and (b) commencing an air service to the island.

Baroness Amos: Three consortia have pre-qualified for construction of the airport and, following a recent period of public information and consultation on St Helena, we are in the final stages of preparing the invitation to tender. We expect to enter into a contract for the design, construction and operation of the airport in early 2007. Dates for the start of construction and commencement of air services will depend on the programme submitted by the successful consortium, but we expect the airport to open in or around 2010.

Taxation: VAT

Lord Inglewood: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord McKenzie of Luton on 28 April (WA 35), whether their decision not to sign Annexe K of the sixth European Union VAT directive means that, even if circumstances change, they cannot introduce the reduced rate of VAT for any of the supplies listed which they would have been able to do had they signed Annexe K.

Lord McKenzie of Luton: Annexe K of the sixth VAT directive was introduced on an experimental basis to test the impact of reduced rates of VAT on employment. Only those member states that had applied to join this experiment by 31 March 2006 are able to introduce a reduced rate for the supplies listed in Annexe K.